After a spell in the job during the mid-1980s, Denizli made a reluctant return to the position of national coach after Turkey's dreadful performance in Euro 96 where they failed to score in three chastening defeats.

Initially he combined his role with that of coach at Kocaelispor, but after a couple of months and a 4-0 defeat by France in Paris he dropped his club commitments.

He favours an attacking style of play - perhaps unsurprisingly given his speciality in his playing days of scoring direct from corners - but failed to guide his side to France for the last World Cup.

Overall, Turkey's form since then has been encouraging - although he is still to stamp out the annoying habit of letting vital wins slip.

Born in Izmir in 1949, he spent 13 years with Altay in his hometown, gaining a reputation as one of the best left-sided forwards in the league.

He finished his playing career with Galatasary, whom he then managed in two spells before moving on to coach Kocaelispor in 1994 and from there to the national side.